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Bhagavati Sūtra Bk. 11 Ch. 12
249
his mind : “Well, I have come to acquire superhuman knowledge and faith by dint of which I have realised that the existence of gods in heaven is minimum of ten thousand years. Thereafter increasing from one time, two times till countable times becomes maximum of ten sägaropamas. There is no god or heaven with an existence beyond this limit. Having thought like that he descended from the exposure ground. Then picking up his tridanda, kundikā till saffron robes he came to the hermitage of tāpasa monks at Alabhikā and then having deposited his equipments in the hermitage he appeared in the city of Alabhikā and spoke to men on highways, in the parks and squares in part as follows: “Oh beloved of the gods! I have come to acquire superhuman knowledge and faith by dint of which I have known and seen that minimum existence of gods in heaven is of ten thousand years and maximum of ten sāgaropamas. There is no god or heaven beyond this limit.” On hearing these words of ascetic Pudgala, as stated in the case of Rājarşi Siva, men talked amongst themselves : "Oh beloved of the gods ! How can we accept his contention ? After some time Bhagavān Mahāvīra arrived there till Gautama went to the town on a begging mission. Having heard the discussion as above he came to Bhagavān Mahāvīra and stated what he had heard. Mahāvira replied, “Gautama ! What Pudgala says is not true. I say and establish that the existence of gods in heaven is minimum of ten thousand years. Thereafter increasing from one time, two times till maximum of thirtythree sägaropamas. There is no god or heaven with an existence beyond this limit.”
प्रश्न ८०-अत्थि णं भंते ! 3rqouis fa?
सोहम्मे कप्पे दव्वाइं सवण्णाई पि
Q. 80. Bhante ! Are the objects in Saudharma heaven with or without colour, etc. ?
उत्तर ८०-तहेव जाव...हंता अस्थि एवं ईसाणे वि एवं जाव...अच्चुए एवं गेवेज्जविमाणेसु अणुत्तरविमाणेसु वि ईसिपब्भाराए वि जाव...हता अस्थि ।
